Basic Excel Formulas
Here’s a detailed list of basic MS Excel formulas and their uses.
Formula Function Example Result
=SUM(A1:A5) Adds numbers in a =SUM(10, 20, 30) 60
range
=AVERAGE(A1:A5) Finds average =AVERAGE(10, 20, 20
30)
=MAX(A1:A5) Highest value =MAX(5, 10, 15) 15
=MIN(A1:A5) Lowest value =MIN(5, 10, 15) 5
=COUNT(A1:A5) Counts numeric =COUNT(10, "A", 2
values 30)
=COUNTA(A1:A5) Counts non-empty =COUNTA(10, "", 2
cells "A")
=IF(A1>50, "Pass", Conditional test If A1 = 60 Pass
"Fail")
=NOW() Current date & time — 23-May-2025 10:30
AM
=TODAY() Current date only — 23-May-2025
=CONCATENATE(A1 Joins text A1 = "Hi", B1 = HiThere
, B1) "There"
=LEN(A1) Length of text A1 = "Excel" 5
=LEFT(A1, 2) First 2 characters A1 = "Excel" Ex
=RIGHT(A1, 2) Last 2 characters A1 = "Excel" el
=VLOOKUP(lookup_ Vertical lookup — Searches for a value
value, table_array, in a table
col_index, FALSE)
=HLOOKUP(...) Horizontal lookup — Similar to VLOOKUP
but horizontal
=ROUND(A1, 2) Rounds number A1 = 12.3456 12.35